Known as the Creole Venice for the high number of bridges that set it apart, the City of Matanzas is located on a beautiful bay, beside the Yumuri and San Juan Rivers. Matanzas, a prosperous city, was founded in 1693 and which some call the Athens of Cuba, in reference to its many poets. Monumental buildings of neoclassical features are a proof of the boom that this quiet city has experienced beginning in late 18th century. Matanzas grew around a large bay, well protected by a solid network of fortresses the most important of which can still be visited and admired today. Parque Libertad is the main town square which is home to some valuable historic buildings. 

Recently restored on the outside, this massive, neoclassical church with two ornate towers is famous for its interior frescoes. In front of the church, there is a huge ceiba tree with a heavy, metal bell hanging from one of the branches, commemorating the bells that were rung to call in slaves from the sugar plantations. On the ground below lies a large, antique metal gear from a sugar mill.

This distinctive, slate-blue building was built in 1838 for the wealthy del Junco family and since 1980 has housed a collection of artifacts, photographs, memorabilia and tools—some of them gruesome—chronicling the sugar and slave industries, on which the city's wealth was built. 

A beautiful cave with an underground spring that has created a natural pool reaching a depth of 22 meters and accessible to snorkelers. Its waters are extraordinarily transparent with abundant secondary formations stalactites and stalagmites of curious shape. During you dive here you can discover fish and blind shrimp among other species. There is also a bar, relaxation areas and toilets.